​Using DWELL during COVID-19

​As we’ve connected with DWELL leaders across the continent one thing is for sure: no two churches look the same right now. In considering how to resource our DWELL churches during this pandemic season, our goal is to help churches adapt to a variety of situations.

DWELL Flex: simple multi-age, multi-setting sessions. 

DWELL Flex is a new edition of DWELL, built specifically for the challenges and changes many churches are facing right now. DWELL Flex is...flexible! The 36 adapted New Testament sessions work with a wide range of ages and in a wide variety of settings, including:
  • By Video - Whether pre-recorded or live via Zoom.
  • At Church - If lower attendance requires you to combine into a multi-age class.
  • At Home - Send these easy lessons for families to do at home.
The first twelve of these simple DWELL session plans are available now. Additional sessions will be released by September 2020 as their content is finalized. All DWELL Flex sessions require no materials and can be used in a variety of settings with multiple ages. Check out a sample here or view the full sessions on DWELL Digital (subscription required).

​These sessions include four simple steps—Breathe, Tell and Wonder, Pray, and Respond—providing a simple way for anyone to lead a DWELL session with little advanced preparation. Built on the convenient DWELL Digital platform, these downloadable, printable files can be shared electronically with anyone, and viewed from any kind of device. 

DWELL Flex is included at no extra cost to churches with a DWELL Digital subscription. Subscriptions start at only $150 per year per church. For details and information about how to sign up, see our DWELL Digital page.

Check out our Welcome to DWELL Flex page for more information, including the stories included in this new edition of DWELL.

Template for Leading a Simplified DWELL Session 

Our FREE Template for Leading a Simplified DWELL Session follows the same simple outline as our 36 new sessions and will help leaders adapt any other DWELL session to their particular situation. If you’re looking to continue your age-specific DWELL groups, moving through the DWELL years in proper sequence, this resource will help you adapt any DWELL session to fit your church’s needs. Adapted lessons can be used to record and send video sessions to parents, create simple session plans parents can use to tell God’s Big Story at home, or to lead children through a DWELL session in person.

Using DWELL During Worship and With Families

We’ve also developed the following list of ideas for those not planning to run any programs for children outside of the worship service:

​Expanded DWELL Digital permissions

We’ve temporarily expanded our DWELL Digital permissions to allow parents to view session plans, activities, printable pages, and more. 
  • DWELL coordinators are able to give parents access to DWELL Digital by adding them as “Teachers.” 
  • DWELL coordinators and teachers are permitted to email parents the DWELL Digital PDFs during this time.
For more information on these expanded permissions, see this Network post: DWELL Digital During COVID-19.

​Stay Tuned for More Info!

We’ll be sending a special “Fall Resources” issue of our Dwelling newsletter in early August that will highlight all of our new resources. You can sign up here to receive Dwelling in your email. We’ll also post updates in our DWELL Leaders Lounge Facebook group, so join that group if you haven’t yet!

​Have a unique situation that isn't addressed here? Let us know how we can help by emailing us at info@dwellcurriculum.org.